Combination steady-rest and tool holder

ABSTRACT

A steady-rest for a workpiece held by a lathing machine includes means for holding a cut-off tool in a direction normal to the workpiece, and further includes means for advancing the cut-off tool.

United States Patent Johnson Nov. 13, 1973 [54] COMBINATION STEADY-RESTAND TOOL l,245,020 10/1917 Pianarosa 29/97.5 HOLDER 407,972 7/1889Springer 82/35 Carl A. Johnson, ll2 E. Palmetto Ave, Box 58,Howey-inthe-Hills, Fla. 32737 Filed: Sept. 7, 1972 Appl. No.: 286,894

Inventor:

US. Cl. 82/35, 29/97.5 Int. Cl B23b 29/14, B23b 29/16 Field of Search82/35, 46, 76, 77;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1917 Kupp 82/35 FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS 349,488 3/1922 Germany ..s2/35 Primary ExaminerLeonidasVlachos Attorney-William M. Hobby et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A steady-rest for a workpiece held by a lathing machineincludes means for holding a cut-off tool in a direction normal to theworkpiece, and further includes means for advancing the cut-off tool.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures W leg apteznnnn mnnnnn COMBINATIONSTEADY-REST AND TOOL HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention The present invention relates to lathing machines, and inparticular to accessories for lathes which are designed to steady theworkpiece in the lathe and carry a cut-off tool in combinationtherewith.

2. Description of the Prior Art Lathes are employed for a variety ofcutting and turning operations. Generally, a lathe includes a headstock"having a chuck or collet which is adapted to hold and turn one end ofthe workpiece. The lathe further includes longitudinal ways extendingaway from the headstock, with the workpiece juxtaposed above the ways.

When the workpiece comprises a piece of cylindrical stock, it iscustomary to employ a lathe accessory known as a steady-rest. Thesteady-rest is movably mounted in the longitudinal ways of the lathe,and has an opening therethrough which is adapted to receive theworkpiece. Means extending through the steadyrest, such as adjustablescrews or bearing rollers, are used to steady the workpiece during thelathing operation.

Most prior art lathes employ cut-off tools mounted on carriages whichare adapted to traverse the cut-off tool back and forth transverse tothe longitudinal ways. There has been some suggestion in the prior artto combine the steady-rest and tool holding functions into a singleattachment; see, for example, U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,420,945 to Gaylord, and2,395,365 to Wilson et al. However, such prior art arrangements are notsuitable for many operations such as cutting completely through theworkpiece. Other arrangements, alternately referred to as roller boxesor box tools, are adapted to receive the workpiece and hold the cuttingtool. Such arrangements, however, are mounted only on the lathe turretor on the transverse carriage. See for example U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,513,819to Saunders, 2,473,418 to Fellroth and 3,385,146 to Head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a combinationsteady-rest and tool holder accessory for a lathe machine of the typehaving ways longitudinal thereto. The combination apparatus comprises abody member having an opening therethrough which is adapted to receive aworkpiece. The apparatus further includes means for movably mounting thebody member in the ways, and a cutting tool holding member joined to theperiphery of the body.member. A cut-off tool is slidably mounted in thetool holding member and the apparatus includes means for advancing thetool against the workpiece.

THE DRAWING FIG. 3b is a partial cross-section of the embodiment of FIG.3a.

FIG. 4a is a front view of another embodiment of the present invention,with portions cut away.

FIG. 4b is a partial cross-section of the embodiment of FIG. 4a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A lathe employing the combination steady-rest andtool holder of the present invention is referred to generally as 10 inFIG. 1.

The lathe 10 includes a headstock 12 having a chuck 14 associatedtherewith, the chuck 14 being adapted to receive one end of a workpiece16. The chuck 14, and consequently the workpiece 16, is turned by amotor (not shown) within the headstock 12. The lathe l0 further includeslongitudinal ways 20 extending axially with the headstock 12.

A combination steady-rest and tool holder 22 in accordance with thepresent invention is mounted in the longitudinal ways 20. Thiscombination rest 22 generally includes a metallic body member 24 havingan opening 26 therethrough which is adapted to receive the workpiece 16.A vertical bracket 28 is joined to the body member 24, and includesindentations 30, a bolt 31 and a clamp 32 for movably mounting thecombination steady-rest 22 in the longitudinal ways 20. As shown in FIG.1, the body member 24 and the bracket 28 may comprise an integralmetallic member.

The combination steady-rest 22 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. Thesteady-rest 22 further includes at least three set screws 34 whichextend through the body member 24 and are adapted to steady theworkpiece 16 in the opening 26. While it is not necessary to thisinvention, the body member 24 preferably has an upper portion, or gate,"25 which is rotatably joined at a pivot 36, such that the upper portion25 can be rotated away from the opening 26 to facilitate insertion ofthe workpiece 16 into the chuck 14 without requiring the completeremoval of the steady-rest 22 from the longitudinal ways 20. The upperportion 25 is secured to the bottom portion of the body member 24 by abolt The combination steady-rest 22 further comprises a cutting toolholding member 40 joined to an outer side of the body member 24. Thetool holding member 40 may also be formed integrally with the bodymember 22. A cut-off tool 42 is slidably mounted in the tool holder 40,and has a cutting end 44 which is adapted to extend into the opening 26at right angles to, and against the workpiece 16. Screws 41 slidablyengage the cut-off tool 42 and hold the tool in the holding member 40. Athreaded screw 46 extends axial to the cutting tool 42 and through theend of the tool holding member 40 distal to the body member 24, toprovide means for advancing the tool 44 against the workpiece 16.

An alternate embodiment of the combination steadyrest and tool holder ofthe present invention is shown in FIG. 3a and referred to generally as50. The steadyrest 50 is essentially similar to the steady-rest 22 ofFIG. 2, except that the steady-rest 50 includes a spring tension member52 interposed between the tool advancing screw 46 and the tool 42, toprovide preloaded spring tension along a line axial with the tool. Thetension member 52 is shown in detail in FIG. 3b, and includes a housing54 through which the advancing screw 46 is threaded. A plunger 56extends into the housing 54 and includes a larger diameter portion 51engaging the inside of the housing 54. The smaller diameter portion 59extends into an opening 61 axial along the advancing screw 46, and has aplurality of alternately faced preloaded spring washers 58 axialtherewith, each washer 58 being interposed between the advancing screw46 and the larger diameter portion 51 inside the housing 54.

In use, the preloaded washers 5S maintain a tension against the tool 42,and thus, hold the tool rigidly against the workpiece I6. When a forceis exerted axially into the cutoff tool 42 during the cutting operationsufficient to overcome the combined preloaded tension of the springwashers 5%, the tool 42 moves axially back through the tool holdingmember 50. In this way damage to the workpiece l6 and scarring of thecutting end 44 of the cut-off tool is avoided. It will be appreciated bythose skilled in the machining art that the desired spring tension willdepend on the workpiece and the type of cutting operation, and that thistension can be adjusted to any given value by proper selection of thetype and number of preloaded spring washers to be used.

Referring again to FIG. 3b, the combination steadyrest 50 also differswith respect to the steady-rest 22 of FIG. 2, in that the steady-rest 50further comprises a fulcrum 60, which bears between the tool 42 and theinner side of the tool holding member 40. The fulcrum 60 includes a slot62 therein which is adapted to receive the cut-off tool 42. In operationthe fulcrum 60 provides'a degree of oscillation, or give, for the tool42 with respect to the workpiece 16.

Yet another embodiment of the steady-rest of the present invention isshown in FIG. 4a and referred to generally as 70. The steady-rest 70 issimilar to the steady-rest 50 of FIG. 3a and further includes springtension means bearing against the tool 42 along a line substantiallyperpendicular thereto. As shown in FIG. 4a and in greater detail in FIG.4b, this perpendicular spring tension means includes a threaded screw 72extending into the tool holding member 40 with a plurality of preloadedspring washers 74 interposed between the screw 72 and the tool 42. Thewashers 74 are axial with a rod 76 extending into a hollow bore 75 ofthe screw 72, the rod 76 being integral with a larger head portion 78which engages the washers 74. In operation, the plunger 76, thepreloaded spring washers 74 and the screw 72 hold the tool 42 rigiduntil a given minimum force is exerted tangential to the cutting end 44of the tool 42 sufficient to overcome the spring tension of the washers.As noted previously, this prevents damage to the workpiece 16 andscarring of the cutting end 44. It will be appreciated by those skilledin the art that the perpendicular tension means may be used alone, or inconjunction with the axial spring tension means, as shown in FIG. 4a.

Various other arrangements and alterations may be adapted for use withthe above described embodiments without departing from the spirit andscope of the combination steady-rest and tool holder of the presentinvention.

I claim:

l. A combination steady-rest and cut-off tool holder for a lathe machineof the type having ways longitudinal to a means for holding a workpiece,comprising:

a body member having an opening therethrough and adapted to receive insaid opening said workpiece held by said lathe;

means mounted in said body member for steadying said workpiece in saidopening;

a cut-off tool holding member joined to an outer side of said bodymember;

a cut-off tool, slidably mounted in said holding member and adapted toextend into said opening at an angle to said workpiece;

a threaded screw for advancing said cut-off tool through said holdingmember and against said workpiece, said screw extending through saidholding member at an end distal from said body member and along a lineaxial with said tool;

at least one preloaded spring washer interposed between said threadedscrew and said tool;

another threaded screw extending normal to said tool through saidholding member;

at least one preloaded spring washer interposed between said anotherscrew and said tool;

means for movably mounting said body member in said longitudinal waysand fulcrum means bearing between said tool and said tool holding memberand including a slot therein adapted to receive said tool, said fulcrumadapted to provide a degree of oscillation for the tool with respect tothe workpiece.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim I wherein said means for mountingcomprises a vertical bracket joined to said body member and adapted formounting in said longitudinal ways.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said body and said bracketcomprise an integral metallic member.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

means for applying a spring tension against said tool in one direction;and wherein said spring tension means is preloaded so as to yield onlyupon the exertion of a given minimum force against said tool in adirection reverse to said one direction.

5. A combination steady-rest and cut-off tool holder for a lathe machineof the type having ways longitudinal to a means for holding a workpiece, comprising:

a body member having an opening thwrethrough and adapted to receive insaid opening said work piece held by said lathe;

means mounted in said body member for steadying said workpiece in saidopening;

a cuttoff tool holding member joined to an outer side of said bodymember;

a cutoff tool slidably mounted in said holding member and adapted toextend into said opening at an angle to said workpiece;

a threaded screw for advancing said cut-off tool through said holdingmember and against said workpiece, said screw extending through saidholding member at an end distal from said body member and along a lineaxial with said tool;

at least one preloaded spring washer interposed between said threadedscrew and said tool;

another threaded screw extending normal to said tool through saidholding member;

at least one preloaded spring washer interposed between said anotherscrew and said tool;

means for movably mounting said body member in said longitudinal waysand fulcrum means bearing between said tool and said tool holding memberand including a slot therein adapted to receive said tool, said fulcrumadapted to provide a degree of oscillation for the tool with respect tothe workpiece.

1. A combination steady-rest and cut-off tool holder for a lathe machineof the type having ways longitudinal to a means for holding a workpiece,comprising: a body member having an opening therethrough and adapted toreceive in said opening said workpiece held by said lathe; means mountedin said body member for steadying said workpiece in said opening; acut-off tool holding member joined to an outer side of said body member;a cut-off tool, slidably mounted in said holding member and adapted toextend into said opening at an angle to said workpiece; a threaded screwfor advancing said cut-off tool through said holding member and againstsaid workpiece, said screw extending through said holding member at anend distal from said body member and along a line axial with said tool;at least one preloaded spring washer interposed between said threadedscrew and said tool; another threaded screw extending normal to saidtool through said holding member; at least one preloaded spring washerinterposed between said another screw and said tool; means for movablymounting said body member in said longitudinal ways and fulcrum meansbearing between said tool and said tool holding member and including aslot therein adapted to receive said tool, said fulcrum adapted toprovide a degree of oscillation for the tool with respect to theworkpiece.
 2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means formounting comprises a vertical bracket joined to said body member andadapted for mounting in said longitudinal ways.
 3. Apparatus as recitedin claim 2 wherein said body and said bracket comprise an integralmetallic member.
 4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising:means for applying a spring tension against sAid tool in one direction;and wherein said spring tension means is preloaded so as to yield onlyupon the exertion of a given minimum force against said tool in adirection reverse to said one direction.
 5. A combination steady-restand cut-off tool holder for a lathe machine of the type having wayslongitudinal to a means for holding a work piece, comprising: a bodymember having an opening thwrethrough and adapted to receive in saidopening said work piece held by said lathe; means mounted in said bodymember for steadying said workpiece in said opening; a cuttoff toolholding member joined to an outer side of said body member; a cutofftool slidably mounted in said holding member and adapted to extend intosaid opening at an angle to said workpiece; a threaded screw foradvancing said cut-off tool through said holding member and against saidworkpiece, said screw extending through said holding member at an enddistal from said body member and along a line axial with said tool; atleast one preloaded spring washer interposed between said threaded screwand said tool; another threaded screw extending normal to said toolthrough said holding member; at least one preloaded spring washerinterposed between said another screw and said tool; means for movablymounting said body member in said longitudinal ways and fulcrum meansbearing between said tool and said tool holding member and including aslot therein adapted to receive said tool, said fulcrum adapted toprovide a degree of oscillation for the tool with respect to theworkpiece.